True Science Is Just
BuddhismA talk by Venerable Master Hua in
the evening of January 10, 1993,
at the Taipei Institute of Industrial Technology

All Good and Wise Advisors: Since I never
studied science or philosophy, I am an outsider to these subjects. You are
really giving me a difficult task by asking me to speak on these subjects.
Nevertheless, I will say a few unscientific and unphilosophical words.
What is science? What is philosophy? These two terms are very abstract. Science
deals with wisdom, and philosophy deals with reason. As for wisdom and reason,
there is no progress and no retreat in them. They exist in completion, with
neither more in sages, nor less in ordinary people.
What is the study of wisdom? It refers to the wisdom in the threefold study of
precepts, concentration, and wisdom. If you want to have real wisdom, you must
first have concentration. With concentration you can distinguish true dharmas
from false dharmas and good dharmas from bad dharmas. To obtain concentration,
you must first observe the precepts. What are the precepts? The precepts guard
against wrongdoing. We should follow the saying: Do
no evil, practice all good, and purify your own mind.
That is the teaching of the Buddhas.

This is considered wisdom.
You say, "Everyone understands the principle of doing no evil. How can that be
wisdom?" "Anyone can understand the principle of practicing only good. How is
that wisdom?" If you can do no evil, then you have the power of the precepts. If
you practice only good, then you have the power of wisdom. Once you have the
power of precepts, the power of samadhi arises. The power of concentration can
regulate the power of wisdom, the nature of the wisdom.
I am an outsider to science, but I will say a few "professional" words. Science
is limitless and inexhaustible. Five hundred years ago, people already
understood science. Over three thousand years ago, there were already people in
China who understood science. Xuan Yan, the Yellow Emperor, invented the compass
four or five thousand years ago, and it is still being used today to tell
direction in both the East and the West. Such things are the products of
science. Very early on in Chinese science, before the Zhou Dynasty, they had
cannons and gunpowder, but they didn't use them in warfare. They would just set
off the cannons a few times to celebrate important occasions. Science was
already developing in China then, and by the time of Mocius, the plane was
already invented. Instead of calling it a plane ["flying machine" in Chinese],
they called it a "flying goose."

Although the Chinese people like to study, they do not try to deepen their
understanding. They invent something, but do not investigate it deeply, so
after a long time, it is forgotten. There is historical evidence for this.
During the Minor Han Dynasty of the Three Kingdoms Period, Zhuge Liang [a
brilliant military strategist] built wooden horses and oxen that could transport
food and supplies for the army without needing to eat hay or grain or to sleep.
Although that technology has now been lost, it was also a scientific
development.
In speaking of science, we must realize that the scientific research of five
hundred years ago defined science a certain way, but that definition has changed
after five hundred years. What was considered a scientific invention in the past
is no longer used now. So the principles are endless and inexhaustible, and when
we say there is progress, it does not mean that we invent something new. Even
when there is no progress, the principle is always there. It is just that our
wisdom and intelligence may not have reached that kind of state, and so we are
unaware of that kind of science.

Computers are also a result of science, but nowadays everyone is infatuated with
computers, and many are using them to make money. If you understand computers,
you can make a lot of money, but if you don't, you might lose your job. Over ten
years ago, I said that the computer ["electronic brain" in Chinese] cannot beat
the "spiritual brain" which runs not on electricity, but on our own wisdom. If
you have wisdom, then you can resolve any problem right away. Fools who lack
wisdom cannot learn anything well. Each one of us has a spiritual brain. We
don't need to go out and buy one. If we know how to use our spiritual brain,
then it can surpass the electronic brain--the computer. However, those who study
science today don't know about the spiritual brain, which is inherent in their
own nature and need not be sought outside.

Philosophy deals with reason, with the study of what is logical and what is not.
The more people study this kind of knowledge, the more muddled they become,
until they grow old and die without having reached any conclusion in their
studies. When they are reborn as people in their next life, they will have
forgotten everything they studied previously and will have to start all over
again. Science and philosophy exist by themselves, and there is no such thing as
their progress or decline. Progress and decline are just discriminations that we
make. As all of you scientists can tell, I am just speaking the words of an
outsider.

What is true science? Not fighting is science; not being greedy is science;
seeking nothing is science; being unselfish is true science; not pursuing
personal profit is true philosophy, and so is not lying. If you have these six
faults, then no matter how much research you do, you are just circling around on
the surface. The more you study, the more muddled you get, and you will never
get a handle on it. It never ends, but just goes on and on. Wouldn't it be
better for us to return to the source and improve our spiritual brains? Then,
without making a move, we would understand the universe. Nothing would be beyond
our knowledge. As it is said, "one suddenly penetrates everything and
understands all the inner, outer, coarse, and fine aspects of the myriad
phenomena, as well as the overall great functioning of one's mind." If you can
truly cultivate precepts, concentration, and wisdom, they are the fundamentals
of science and philosophy. I'm afraid we have neglected them and paid no
attention to them. We are just spinning in circles, round and round, unable to
find a way out.

In studying science and philosophy, we should first thoroughly investigate the
science and philosophy of our own selves. If you study what is outside, without
first understanding your own problems, then no matter how much money and effort
you expend in your research, it will come to nothing. This is because you are
abandoning the root to pursue the branch tips. You are looking outside instead
of applying effort internally, in the mind. If you search for and study the
Dharma external to your mind, what you find will not be the real thing.
I am sure some people are objecting, "What you are saying is totally absurd.
We've never heard anyone say that science and philosophy should be based on
precepts, concentration, and wisdom. Precepts, concentration, and wisdom are the
business of monks--what do they have to do with science and philosophy?" It is
just because you haven't found the root that you think they are the business of
monks. Actually, monks are just people, and it is people who become monks. It is
said, "People's minds are all the same, and all minds follow the same
principle." You shouldn't think what I said is a big deal.

The true science is just Buddhism. Buddhism encompasses the myriad things, and
there is no field of study which goes beyond Buddhism. Therefore, if you want to
study extensively, you should first investigate the Buddhadharma. Once you
understand the Buddhadharma, it will be easy to study science and philosophy,
because you will have great wisdom, and all problems will be solved as soon as
they arise
.If what I have said makes sense, you can try it out. If it doesn't make sense,
then I have wasted everyone's time, and you should forget it.

Q: How can we study and
practice Buddhism without obstructions?A: Is your teacher obstructing you? Even in the cultivation of Buddhism,
you are bound to encounter obstructions. It all depends on whether or not you
have concentration. If you have concentration and wisdom, you will be able to
deal effectively with every situation, and not be obstructed by it. If you are
very stupid, and you feel obstructed when a mosquito bites you or a fly kicks
you, then there will be no end to your obstructions. You bring suffering and
vexation upon yourself. You're just asking for trouble and obstructions.
Q: In cause and effect, which spans the past, present, and future, is the
"I" who will receive the retribution in the future the same as the "I" who is
creating karma in this life?A: If you want to know the causes you planted in past lives, just look at
what kind of retribution you are receiving in this life. Your present
retribution is based on your past causes. If you want to know the retribution
you will receive in the future, just look at what you are doing in this life.
How your future turns out depends upon the karma you create in the present. For
example, if you do a lot of killing, then you will have the retribution of a
short life in your next life. If you do a lot of stealing, then you will be
robbed by others in your next life.
Q: I'm a student, and I love to read the Venerable Master's books. I have an
important question. The Master has mentioned that there are two lines in the
Shurangama Mantra that can bring forth our wisdom. Could the Venerable Master
tell us what those two lines are? Thank you for your compassionate instruction.
Homage to Greatly Kind and Compassionate Guanshiyin Bodhisattva.A: Yes, I can tell you, but will you recite them? First tell me that.
Suppose I tell you, and you forget it and don't recite it. After a while, you
complain, "You told us those two lines, but my wisdom still hasn't come forth."
Why hasn't your wisdom come forth? Well, you didn't recite them, so how could
your wisdom come forth? Therefore, if you want to learn them, you have to be
mindful of them at all times. You have to think, "I can go without eating, I can
go without wearing clothes, and I can go without sleeping, but I can't go
without reciting this mantra." If you have that kind of resolve, your wisdom
will certainly come forth. If you don't have that kind of resolve and are just
looking for a quick "fix," thinking that you'll obtain a treasure if I tell you
the mantra, then you'll end up with nothing. What is the mantra?
It goes: bo na ni, fa la ni. If
you believe it, you can try it out. But if you don't recite it, don't blame me
if your wisdom doesn't come forth.

Q: What do these two phrases mean? A: If you want to know the meaning, you won't bring forth wisdom.

Q: (Liang Surong) These are Sanskrit words. Could the Venerable Master
please tell us what they mean? A: Is Liang Surong asking? I can explain a bit. These two phrases request
the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas to bring forth our wisdom, that is, our true
wisdom, not worldly wisdom. It refers to the Dharma-Selecting Vision that can
distinguish true Dharma from false Dharma. These mantric syllables are spoken by
the invisible transformation Buddha atop Shakyamuni Buddha's crown. Each of
these mantric syllables are divine, true, wonderful words. Bo na ni, fa la ni
requests all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas to "give me aid and cause me to bring
forth great wisdom."

This mantra is also called "true words" and "divine text." It is called "true
words" because it does not contain the slightest trace of falseness. It is
called "divine text" because it is from the Brahma Heaven and was spoken by
Shakyamuni Buddha to rescue Ananda. But ordinary people do not know how to use
it. I will tell you that since I was little, I went around defeating and
catching monsters and goblins. I’ve encountered probably over a hundred demonic
beings who can take on human form. They were harming a lot of people everywhere,
so I used the Shurangama Mantra to subdue them. As a consequence, all the demons
wanted to fight me to the death, and that was when the trouble came. Now,
because I’m getting on in years—perhaps I’m getting to be an old rogue—I’ve quit
fighting them.Fighting involves the thought of victory and
defeat,
And goes in opposition to the Way.
When the four marks arise in the mind,
How can we obtain samadhi?

Samadhi refers to proper concentration. As soon as you fight with others, there
will be victory and defeat. Either you win and I lose, or I win and you lose. So
fighting involves the thought of victory and defeat. That contradicts the
cultivation of the Way. When the four marks (the mark of a self, the mark of
others, the mark of living beings, and the mark of a life span) arise, how can
you obtain samadhi? How can you have proper concentration? Therefore, we should
not solve problems by force. We should use a peaceful method. We should not
fight with each other for the sake of gain. Everyone should be kind and
courteous. If the country is in harmony, it will certainly prosper. If people
fight, rob and scold one another all the time, that is really an inauspicious
sign. Therefore, I hope all the intelligent people of Taiwan will stop doing
muddled things.

Q: There are many signs of chaos in this
country. What is the destiny of this country?A: Don't ask me about this. All of you should know. Don't ask what you
already know. There is a saying:

If the
country is about to prosper,
There will be auspicious omens.
If the country is about to perish,
There will be evil portents.
The oracles will manifest signs,
And the people's actions will be affected.
Thus, calamities and blessings can be known in advance.
Good things can be known in advance;
Bad things can also be known advance.

King Tang of the Shang
Dynasty appealed to the Lord of Heaven, saying, "I, this little boy, Tang Lü,
offer up a black cow and address Lord Heaven and Lord Earth. If I have offenses,
do not punish the people. If the people have offenses, it is because I have not
taught them well, and you should punish me for their offenses. I alone should
take the blame." The renowned sage-kings of ancient times courageously reformed
themselves, confessed their mistakes, and accepted criticism with grace. They
are truly good models and leaders.
That's it for today. See you next time. Good afternoon!